Why Jim Craig is selling his 1980 Miracle on Ice memorabilia, including his gold medal

Jim Craig became a part of history when he helped lead the U.S. hockey team that shocked the world by defeating the heavily favored Soviets at Lake Placid en route to a Olympic gold in 1980. Now, the goalie on that Miracle on Ice team is giving others a chance to own a piece of that history.

Craig announced he would be auctioning off nearly all of his Olympics memorabilia through the sports memorabilia company Leland's to help provide for his family and donate some of the money to various charities.

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"I don't really feel as though they were just mine. I think I was a representative of something that was really special," Craig told the Daily News. "And the auction was a way to get it out there to people who could really enjoy these things as I move to different chapters of my life. This was an awesome opportunity and chapter of my life, but I have moved on."

The 17-piece lot includes Craig's gold medal, the jersey he wore in that upset win over the Red Army, considered one of greatest U.S. sporting events of the 20th centrury, and the jersey he wore in the gold medal game against Finland that took place two days later. Craig is also auctioning off the U.S. flag famously draped over his shoulder just following the team's gold medal win.

The entire lot was previously offered last July as one single collection for an asking price of $5.7 million, but was later pulled.

Craig said he cherishes his Olympic memorabilia and what they represent. He previously loaned several pieces to the Hockey Hall of Fame and other museums. However, he said as he got older, and after fellow 1980 Olympics teammate Bob Suter died in 2014, he started to consider selling the items to help his family financially.

Lake Placid: A look at where the Miracle on Ice took place

"When you really get older — we lost Bobby Suter to death — you start to really plan your financial future and how it's going to go," Craig said. "It became burdensome. It became a hard decision to make."

While Craig said that his gold medal was the most difficult item to part with, he explained that he would have been faced with a more serious dilemma had he elected to keep it.

Jim Craig's game-worn U.S. hockey jersey. (COURTESY OF LELANDS)

"The bigger problem would have been," Craig said, "I have two children — who is going to get the medal?"

The flag Jim Craig draped around his shoulders after winning the gold medal in 1980. (Courtesy of Lelands)

Craig was one of the main contributors behind the U.S.'s surprising run at Lake Placid. He led all goalies with 183 total saves, with his most memorable performance coming against the Soviet Union when he made 36 saves to help preserve a 4-3 U.S. win in the greatest upset in sports history.